William Shakespeare is working on a new comedy in London in 1598 but is struggling with writer's block. Viola de Lesseps, who enjoys Shakespeare's plays, disguises herself as a man named Thomas Kent to audition for a role. She and Shakespeare fall in love, which inspires his playwriting but complicates their relationship due to her disguise. Their love faces obstacles from Viola's forbidden desire to act and from social norms, but brings Shakespeare out of his creative block and forms the beginning of their love story.